A New Home, a Bigger Weekend for Oakhurst Fall Festival
Site changes and new experiences give the 33rd annual celebration a fresh feel, with local talent and community connections at its heart.
Some people come for the carnival rides. Others make their way toward the food trucks, browse the vendor booths or find a spot to enjoy live music. For plenty of mountain residents, the appeal of the Oakhurst Fall Festival is simply having a place to gather with friends and spend a little time enjoying the community they call home.
This October, that familiar tradition is getting room to grow.
The 33rd annual Oakhurst Fall Festival returns October 9–11, moving to the Oakhurst Community Center at 39800 Road 425B. The new setting gives the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce more space for the rides, food, shopping and entertainment visitors expect, while opening the door to some new experiences.
It also gives festival-goers a reason to approach this year’s celebration with fresh curiosity. Alongside the outdoor activities, the Community Center’s indoor spaces will become part of the weekend, welcoming young performers, a seated wine experience and a Sunday gathering spot for sports fans.
“We’re excited to bring the Fall Festival to its new home at the Oakhurst Community Center,” said Rachael Snedecor, Chamber board president and festival committee chair. “There is something for everyone this year, and we can’t wait to welcome our community and visitors for a fun-filled fall weekend.”
One of the additions puts the spotlight directly on the mountain community’s youngest performers.
On Saturday and Sunday, a community stage in the Main Hall will showcase local children and youth, with performances ranging from dance and performing arts to martial arts and more. For families, it adds another reason to come out: the opportunity to see local talent share what they’ve been learning and practicing.
Elsewhere at the festival, the new Oak Fest Lounge will offer two different ways to settle in and enjoy the weekend.
Saturday brings a seated, ticketed wine experience paired with culinary treats. It offers a chance to slow down between visits to the carnival, vendor booths and music.
On Sunday, the lounge changes gears with a sports bar setup, giving fans a place to keep up with the day’s games without leaving the festival. A pancake breakfast will be available from the Senior Center culinary team, while the Chamber team will offer micheladas, mimosas, wine and beer.
Families will also find some memorable animal encounters on the schedule. Reptile Ron joins Saturday’s activities with an educational reptile experience, and Patient Feather Ranch and Rescue Camels will be part of Sunday’s celebration.
Those additions join the festival’s familiar mix of carnival rides, live music, food trucks, beer and wine, and opportunities to shop with artisans and makers.
That variety is part of what makes a community festival an easy outing to make your own. A family might build its visit around the rides and animal experiences. Friends might come for food, music and an afternoon of browsing. Others may find their reason to attend on the community stage.
Local businesses and organizations will be part of the gathering, too, giving visitors a chance to meet some of the people whose work helps shape daily life in the mountain area.
The festival opens Friday, October 9, from 3–9 p.m., continues Saturday from 10 a.m.–9 p.m., and wraps up Sunday from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Admission is $6, and children younger than 5 enter free. The Saturday Oak Fest Lounge wine experience requires a separate ticket.
The move also brings a change in how visitors arrive. Free shuttles will serve offsite parking, with onsite parking available for ADA access. Festival-goers should plan to use the shuttle rather than drive into the Community Center grounds for general parking.
For an event entering its 33rd year, the new location offers space to try something different while keeping the people of the mountain community at the center of the celebration.
Come to cheer for a young performer, explore the booths, enjoy the music or spend an afternoon with friends. This year, there’s a new place to make the Fall Festival part of your October.
For more information, visit OakhurstChamber.com, call 559-683-7766 or email info@oakhurstchamber.com.